Keto Zuppa Toscana

The perfect fall or winter comfort food! This Keto Zuppa Toscana, or Tuscan-style soup, is given more fat and protein in this low carb version, and far less carbs from the substitution of cauliflower for traditional potatoes.

BEST Zuppa Toscana Soup Recipe - Keto, Low Carb, Gluten-free, LCHF, Paleo

Zuppa Toscana seems to have popularized due to The Olive Garden. I’ve seen copycat recipes pop up all over the Internet for years.

Don’t get me wrong, I used to love a good Olive Garden salad and breadstick. But I’m able to make far superior dishes at home nowadays, so the need to eat out has diminished. I don’t recall ever ordering this soup, but I’ve tried one of these copycats, and I was hooked.

Kale, sausage, and cream? Yes, please. The traditional recipe calls for white beans, but Olive Garden opted for potatoes. This keto Zuppa Toscana uses cauliflower instead, making it lower in carbohydrates.

I’ve added bacon as a secondary meat to beef up (no pun intended) the protein, fat, and flavor level. For my dairy-free or paleo eaters, I’ve included a modification for you so that you can enjoy this low carb soup recipe too.

The soup is hearty, creamy, and perfect for a cool day. It’s the kind of soup that warms you in the winter and goes perfectly with a nice hunk of keto Irish Soda bread, or a Cheddar Chive Biscuit.

How to Make Keto Zuppa Toscana Soup

For a full recipe and measurements, scroll down to the recipe card below.

Ingredient Notes

Italian Sausage. For this low carb Zuppa Toscana soup recipe, I use crumbled Italian Sausage, but links that have been sliced into thin rounds will work as well. Be sure to read the ingredient label of your sausage. Many products have hidden added sugar.

Uncured, Sugar-free Bacon. If you're making a concerted effort to watch sugar, again, read the labels of your products. Standard uncured bacon will work in this recipe too. You can also use turkey bacon, or omit entirely.

Heavy cream, or full-fat coconut cream. Many Zuppa Toscana recipes call for whole-milk. To reduce the added carbs and sugar, I've opted for heavy cream. If you eat dairy-free, or paleo, you can substitute full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream (the kind in a can) to achieve a similar rich, creamy broth. While the refrigerated cartons of coconut milk will work in a pinch, you will not get the same taste and thickness.

Directions

To make this keto Zuppa Toscana Soup,

Melt butter in a dutch oven or stock pot. Add bacon and cook until crisp.

Remove bacon with slotted spoon and transfer to a paper towel lined plate. Keep as much of the drippings as you can in the pot.

Return the pot to the burner and add the onion. Sautee until translucent. Add crumbled sausage and cook until brown. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. Do not burn. Add bone broth and herbs. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Add cauliflower florets and simmer for 20 minutes. Add kale. Allow to wilt for 3-5 minutes.

Return bacon to the soup (reserve a small amount if you'd like a garnish). Add heavy cream or coconut cream, and parmesan (omit if dairy-free). Cook until just heated.

Adjust salt/pepper as needed. Serve garnished with bacon and extra parmesan.

Tips, Tricks, and FAQs

• The key to a great keto soup is definitely in the broth. While homemade bone broth is unbelievable, it’s not always realistic for some families. Now that more stores carry it, I do splurge and purchase bone broth instead of chicken stock. You’ll get more protein and much more flavor. Just watch the labels. Not all bone broths are created equal.
• Don’t overlook your cauliflower or kale. I normally give the cauliflower about 20 minutes max, and the kale only gets a few minutes to wilt. Cauliflower will start to disintegrate if you overcook it, so you loose the nice chunks and degrade the texture of the finished soup.
• I always add Parmesan at the end and on top as a garnish. I prefer grated cheese here since it melts better than shaved Parmesan. Or, better idea, save the rind of your old wedge of fresh Parmesan and toss that in the pot for a while; you’ll get a nice flavor.

Other Low Carb Soup Recipes You'll Love

• Keto Broccoli Cheddar Soup
• Creamy Cauliflower Leek Soup
• Keto Queso Taco Soup

Yield: 6

Keto Zuppa Toscana

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

An easy, one-pot dinner, this hearty soup has a rich savory broth peppered with veggies, bacon, and sausage. Keto or paleo friendly depending on preparation.

Print

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp unsalted butter, or coconut oil (if dairy-free)
• 4 slices sugar-free uncured bacon, cut into 1/4 inch strips
• 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
• 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or hot), crumbled
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 7 cups chicken bone broth
• 1/4 tsp dried thyme
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp dried basil
• 3 cups cauliflower florets
• 2 cups kale, destemmed and chopped
• 1/4 cup heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk (if dairy-free)
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan (omit if dairy-free)

Instructions

Melt butter in a dutch oven or stock pot. Add bacon and cook until crisp.

Remove bacon with slotted spoon and transfer to a paper towel lined plate. Keep as much of the drippings as you can in the pot.

Return the pot to the burner and add the onion. Sautee until translucent.

Add crumbled sausage and cook until brown. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. Do not burn. Add bone broth and herbs. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Add cauliflower florets and simmer for 20 minutes. Add kale. Allow to wilt for 3-5 minutes.

Return bacon to the soup (reserve a small amount if you'd like a garnish). Add heavy cream or coconut cream, and parmesan (omit if dairy-free). Cook until just heated.

Adjust salt/pepper as needed. Serve garnished with bacon and extra parmesan.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1 serving
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 502Total Fat: 40gSaturated Fat: 22gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 1329mgCarbohydrates: 11gNet Carbohydrates: 8gFiber: 3gSugar: 2gProtein: 32g

Nutrition is provided as a courtesy and calculated to the best of my ability using online databases. It is suggested that you perform your own check to ensure that a recipe fits within the scope of your dietary needs.

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